There needs to be proper vetting in order avoid burdening the state with more costly bureaucracy and a huge infrastructure startup cost. Presently, there is no detailed business plan that addresses any of the implementation issues (startup time and diversion of funds; unknown funding source; state liability; policy conflict of social good versus profits; tying up of public funds, etc).

Rep. Gene Ward addresses H.B. No. 1699, which requires employers to provide meal breaks for employees who work more than a total of five hours a day and imposes penalties for failure to provide meal breaks.

Representative Ward presenting arguments against establishing a state bank, including the findings of a Massachusetts study, opposition by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, politicization, and the over $3 billion the bank would need.

“Though collectively we represent over a quarter million people in our various districts, we speak for the people in the entire state who want a more viable alternative to single-party rule, back-door politics and opaque policies that have caused every man, woman, and child to be indebted for $25,000 to their state government for pension and health benefit liabilities. Put simply, Hawaii has not lived up to the economic and educational expectations of its citizens and needs to be put on a recovery program.”